The Oboe BBoard

The Oboe BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: New to oboe: Help me with my tones on lower register, esp. third line "C"

Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-09-09 04:55

Hey Jay, welcome! 3 months at it, eh? Wonderful ... it's been 2 years at it for me and i've long ago forgotten the age of 30-something, good for you getting started now

My suggestion, in addition to rounder embouchure (yes) and extra fingers on 'resonance' keys (E or C or E-flat all seem to work fairly well), is to add more air behind the reed. My old fingers want less keywork, not more, so I think it's easier in the long run to just open up and enrich the sound with more 'singing air' behind the reed.

To remember to open your throat more, think Aaaah! just like for the doctor. To physically do this you'll have to drop your lower jaw. I try to remember to drop my jaw half a notch for mid register G up to half-hole notes, a full notch for 1st 8ve key and 2 notches for 2nd 8ve key (and in reverse coming down) ... but 'tis easier said than done, so we'll both just keep on practising eh?

Reeds matter too. When reeds sing readily (by themselves out of oboe) in a somewhat flat C in your most comfortable embouchure position, this will warm up the sound of those B's, C's and D's. If the reed is singing closer to C# those same notes will sound shrill. I find commercial reeds play flatter than that, so always have to lip them up and that's where The Trouble begins with drac bite

Ah, you're doing Gekeler, what are your favorite pieces just now? My teacher said it's Gekeler II for me this year ... bu..but...but ... I still can't quite get some of the stuff in Gekeler I! If you get through II this year, you'll find 1 a breeze, she said! Yeah, right, IF i get through II ...

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics